You’re Dead to Me – "Alexandria" (Radio Edit)

Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Greg Jenner
Guests: Professor Islam Issa (historian), Athena Koblenu (comedian)

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Greg Jenner teams up with historian Professor Islam Issa and comedian Athena Koblenu to explore the enthralling history of Alexandria, one of the ancient world’s greatest cities. They trace its evolution from a fishing village to a vibrant intellectual and cultural hub, discuss its legendary library, multicultural fabric, turbulent periods, and ongoing significance today. Expect wit, relatable pop culture, and insightful analysis throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Founding and Geographic Significance (03:33–06:24)

• Location & Early History:

  • Alexandria is located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, at the Nile Delta (03:33).
  • Earliest settlements date back to about 2600 BC, but the city itself was founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great (03:52).

• Alexander’s Vision:

  • Alexander chose the site for its strategic position at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe (04:53).
  • According to legend, he mapped out the city with grain on the sand, envisioning markets, temples, and a “shrine to the muses,” later the Library (05:25).

• Initial Development:

  • There were preexisting Egyptian canals and infrastructure, which Alexander leveraged (05:53).
  • The actual construction was managed by the architect Denocrates; Alexander himself never saw the city built (06:15–06:20).

  “He gets down on his knees, according to legend, and he puts, with grain on the sand, a map of the city as he imagines it.” — Prof. Islam Issa (05:25)

The Rise of Alexandria: Power, Diversity, and Marvels (06:24–09:51)

• Ptolemaic Influence:

  • After Alexander’s death, Ptolemy I (his general) took his body to Alexandria. This move was pivotal for legitimizing both his own rule and the city’s importance (06:44–08:01).

• Cosmopolitan Hub:

  • Ptolemy promoted a unique Greco-Egyptian identity and invited diverse populations—including Jews, people from the Levant, even India (08:12).
  • Religious freedoms contributed to a tolerant, populous (possibly first million-strong) city (08:51).

• Landmarks:

  • Pharos Lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the World — was constructed on Pharos Island, connected by a causeway (09:08–09:32).
  • The famed Library of Alexandria was established with the goal to house “every book in the world” (09:51–10:29).

The Library of Alexandria: Knowledge and Vulnerability (09:51–14:43)

• Scope and Ambition:

  • Number of texts estimated between 500,000 and a million (10:30).
  • Scholars like Euclid (geometry), Eratosthenes (Earth’s circumference), Aristarchus (heliocentrism), and Maria the Jewess (alchemy) flourished here (10:57–11:32).

  “When Ptolemy hired Demetrius to found the library, he said to him, to find every book in the world.” — Prof. Islam Issa (10:15)

• Intellectual Vibrancy and Frauds:

  • The quest for texts led to forgeries and opportunists claiming association with famous minds (12:06–12:42).
  • Greg compares this to “AI slop on Amazon” (12:37).

• Decline and Destruction:

  • Later Ptolemies deprioritized the library; patronage turned political (12:51).
  • The library suffered partial destruction in the fire set by Julius Caesar (13:34), and further book burnings by Roman authorities (13:55–14:24).

  “Caesar did this and Caesar did that. Caesar set a fire in Alexandria.” — Greg Jenner (13:34)

Multiculturalism, Religion, and Shifts in Power (14:43–19:22)

• Christianity’s Arrival:

  • St. Mark brought Christianity, establishing the city as a religious center (14:55).
  • Alexandria’s unique blend of Greco-Egyptian, Jewish, and Christian communities fostered an open-minded culture (15:39–16:02).

• Islamic Era and Capital Shift:

  • 7th-century Arab conquest led by Ahmad Ibn Al Aas integrated Egypt into the Caliphate (16:02).
  • The new rulers shifted the capital to Cairo for defense and because of Alexandria’s overwhelming diversity (16:47).

• Islamic Golden Age:

  • While Baghdad rose as the main Arab “knowledge capital,” scholars preserved and referenced texts from Alexandria (17:03–17:26).

• Body Heists:

  • Alexander’s body was famously taken to solidify power (06:44–08:01), and later, Venetian travelers stole St. Mark’s remains by hiding them in pork (17:41–18:34).

    “They covered it in pork and then swapped it with the body of another saint.” — Prof. Islam Issa (18:16)

Downturn and Revival: Ottoman Rule to Modern Times (19:19–24:16)

• Ottoman and European Eras:

  • Ottoman control in 1517 saw the city’s decline (19:19). By the 18th century, the population dropped to ~15,000 (19:22).
  • Napoleon invaded in the late 1700s, both pillaging and initiating serious Egyptological study (19:44–20:42).

• Modern Transformations:

  • After fleeting British rule, the city experienced a cultural renaissance during the late 19th and early 20th centuries (21:18).
  • The “Nahda” or Arab Enlightenment fostered autonomy and creative resurgence (21:18–22:20).
  • Alexandria became a crucible for anti-monarchical and nationalist movements by the mid-20th century (23:10–23:39).

  “It works in the sense that people realize they have an autonomous identity, that their culture is capable of creating amazing things, just like English and French culture is.” — Prof. Islam Issa (22:20)

• Revolutions and Arab Nationalism:

  • Alexandria was pivotal in the 1950s Egyptian revolution, with King Farouk exiled from the city and Nasser rising to prominence (23:32–23:39).

• Legacy:

  • Today, Alexandria retains deep ties to its layered and multicultural past.

    “It’s a city that’s always fighting to be a certain place.” — Athena Koblenu (24:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Intellectual Diversity:

  “He tries to develop like a very unique identity for the city. That’s Greco, Egyptian. He also continues to invite people from all around the region.” — Prof. Islam Issa (08:12)

• On the Legendary Library:

  “The estimates are sort of from 500,000 to a million [scrolls]… So, basically the Internet.” — Prof. Islam Issa & Athena Koblenu (10:30–10:35)

• On Religion:

  “Alexandria was a kind of open-minded place. Traditionally, the Greeks of Alexandria were seen as very liberal compared to the Greeks of Athens.” — Prof. Islam Issa (15:55)

• On Modern Resonance:

  “For me, it’s people watching from the balcony, it’s cats weaving around my feet, it’s the sound of a classical Egyptian melody echoing in a moonlit cafe.” — Prof. Islam Issa (nuance window, 26:34)

• On Recurring Themes:

  “It’s sort of weird how it kind of goes around in circles as well. Like it’s kind of like multiculturalism, liberalism and then something else and then back to that.” — Athena Koblenu (24:04)

Nuance Window: Alexandria Through Native Eyes (24:16–26:48)

[24:34] Professor Islam Issa reflects on the importance of local perspective in studying Alexandria, highlighting how being an Alexandrian gives him unique access to the city’s cultural memory and daily life. He shares personal anecdotes and explains the city’s enduring identity beyond statistics—a living tapestry of stories, people, traditions, and aromas that scholarship alone couldn’t capture.

“To capture this tapestry, scholarship alone isn’t enough… I drank tea with family elders and friendly strangers. I chatted with librarians and eccentric vagabonds.” — Prof. Islam Issa (24:34)

Conclusion

The episode closes with praise for Alexandria’s resilience, diversity, and cyclical reinvention, both from Greg and Athena, with a heartfelt call to see history as living and inherited, not static or remote.
Professor Issa’s evocative descriptions and the panel’s humor ensure Alexandria emerges not only as an ancient wonder but as a city with deep, continuous vitality.

Recommended Listening

• Past "You’re Dead to Me" episodes featuring Athena Koblenu (27:17)
• "Istanbul in the Ottoman Golden Age" (27:17)

[End of summary]